Bendigo could be home to nature strip fruit and vegetable gardens

Bendigo could be reap the rewards of roadside fruit and vegetable gardens

FRESH: The City of Greater Bendigo has discussed the possibility of the nature strips being converted into fruit and vegetable gardens.

The City of Greater Bendigo is considering a plan to permit residents planting vegetable gardens on their nature strips.

Active and Healthy Communities Manager Patrick Jess said the idea, which is about to take effect in the Australian Capital Territory, had been discussed internally since council passed a food security report in 2014.

The report recommended a range of ways for residents to access healthy food and increase their fruit and vegetable intake, including urban agriculture initiatives like community and kerbside gardens.

Mr Jess said as many as 90 percent of people in Bendigo were not consuming enough vegetables and nature strip gardens might help make healthy eating more accessible.

The council had been in contact with Melbourne municipalities like City of Yarra, which had already introduced nature strip gardens.

But Mr Jess also said what worked in urban communities might not fit a regional centre like Bendigo.

"The work we've done so far suggests there isn't a one size fits all approach to this," he said.

He said physical differences between neighbourhoods meant nature strip vegie patches might not work for everyone and if council were to pursue the idea, a trial of interested residents would be the first step.

Bendigo Sustainability Group committee member Evan Davies, who also runs Bendigo Organics, said nature strip gardens will mean Bendigo residents have more secure access to fresh fruit and vegetables, and would reduce demand for overseas imports.